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Structural controls on cobalt mineralisation during regional metamorphism: an example from the Rajapalot area, Finland

Abstract:
The Rajapalot area of Finnish Lapland hosts an unusually high-grade association of cobalt-only and gold–cobalt deposits (10.91 Mt @ 2.5 g/t Au + 0.044% Co total inferred resources) within multiply folded metasedimentary rocks of the Paleoproterozoic Svecofennian collisional orogeny. Through the integration of X-ray computed micro-tomography and micro-X-ray fluorescence raster imaging of drill-core samples, we produce a model of cobalt-bearing ore mineralisation, which reveals primary fluid transportation mechanisms and precipitation pathways. When combined with the deposit-scale, high-resolution ground-based magnetic geophysical data, we show that cobalt-bearing ores in the Rajapalot region occur mostly as saddle reefs located in dilated fold hinges, which formed by simultaneous synthetic and antithetic shearing along developing crenulation-cleavage planes and incompetent bedding layers, respectively. We suggest that multi-layered rock complexes with alternations of competent and incompetent layers deformed and metamorphosed to upper greenschist-lower amphibolite facies should represent focus regions for cobalt exploration targeting campaigns in orogenic belts. The non-destructive workflow presented in this study could be an integral part of an early stage of cobalt mineral processing and traceability before metallurgical treatment.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1007/s00126-024-01315-x

Authors


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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Earth Sciences
Oxford college:
St Cross College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-6959-0462


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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/05bgf9v38


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Mineralium Deposita More from this journal
Volume:
60
Issue:
1
Pages:
213–231
Publication date:
2024-09-16
Acceptance date:
2024-09-04
DOI:
EISSN:
1432-1866
ISSN:
0026-4598


Language:
English
Pubs id:
2031674
Local pid:
pubs:2031674
Deposit date:
2024-11-29

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